Signal device for motor vehicles



2 SHthFSSHE L lY/W/am WNW/safer MW aw Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

W W. HUELSTER.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION man NOV. 1 6. 1920. 1,403,499.

W. W. HUELSTER.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. UL 1920.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 2- William W. f/ue/arer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. HUELSTER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed November T r) all 10. mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM WV. HUEL- srnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal devices for motor vehicles. The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved signal device indicator which is compact and simple in structure and one in which the parts are economical to produce and assemble.

Second, to provide an improved signal device for motor vehicles adapted to display a plurality of indicia, such as stop and direction indicia, which is easily manipulated.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural detail, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a detail view of a structure embodying features of my invention partially in section. only such portion of a motor vehicle being shown as are deemed necessary to illustrate an adaptation of my improvements. and such portions being shown mainly in conventional form. Fig. II is an inverted view of parts of the operating connections. Fig. III is a. detail view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. II. Fig. IV is a side elevation of the hand actuating mechanism looking from the left of Fig. VI. Fig. V is a side elevation of the hand actuating mechanism with one of the casing members removed loolring from the right of Fig. VI. Fig. VI is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. I. Fig. VII is a front elevation of the indicator or signal member proper in its normal position. Fig. VIII is a front elevation of the indicator with the word stop in display position. Fig. IX is a front elevation with the direction or turn indicating indicia in display position. Fig. X is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 101O of Fig. XII. Fig. XI is a transverse section Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1'7, 1922.

1'5, 1920. Serial No. 424,360.

on a line corresponding to line 11-11 of Figs. VII and XII. Fig. XII is a longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 1212 of Figs. X and XI, the lamp being shown in full lines.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing 1 represents the body of a" motor vehicle, '2 the seat, 3 the steering post and 4: the brake lever. These parts are shown in conventional form and without regard to the proper proportions. The indicator or signal device proper comprises a housing or casing consisting of a cylindrical body portion 5 and cap like end members 6 embracing the ends of the body member and secured thereto by means of the screws 7; The end members 6 have inwardly projecting bearings 8 formed integrally therewith.

. The housing is provided with window extension designated generally by the numeral 9. the top 10 and bottom 11 ofthis extension being formed by portions of the body of the housing turned outwardly as shown in Fig. XI. The pane 12 is supported behind llanges 13, a gasket 1e being arranged over the edges of the pane to exclude dust at this point. The housing has a window opening 15 in its bottom. this opening being formed by striking out the part 16 which is reinforced by the flanged plate 17 to provide a supporting bracket. A pane 18 such as celluloid is provided for the window opening '15, pane 18 being secured by the overlapping frame 19.

Within the housing is an indicia drum 20 having an opening 21 adaptedtozalign with the window opening in the bottom of the housing so that light may be reflected therethrough .to illuminatea number plate. The indicia drum has the word stop out therein and also an opening in form of an arrow as shown in Fig. A transparent cover 22 is provided for-these openings, this cover being retained in place by the spring rings 23 arranged therein.

The drum 20 is provided with end members 24 having flanges 25 disposed outwardly, the end members being secured by means of bolts 26. These end members have tubular journals 27 arranged in the tubular bearings 8 on the housing end members thereby supporting the drum for rotative movement within the housing. The housing carries the stop pin 28 while the drum has a notch 29 in one end thereof adapted to receive this stop pin, the ends 30 of the notch constituting stops on the drum.

A coiled spring 31 is arranged on one of the bearing members with one end 32 engaged through a hole 33 in the adjacent end of the drum. The other end of the sprlng is engaged with the journal. 7

With this arrangement the drum is held normally in position with the opening 34 thereof which has a transparent cover 35 of red celluloid or the like, aligned with the front window so that the indicator constitutes a rear or tail light for the automobile.

The actuating cable '36 is wrapped about the drum and passed through the opening 37 in the bottom of the casing over the guide pulley 38 to the lever 39.

The lamp 40 is carried by plate 41 which is mounted on the end of the housing to support the lamp within the drum, the lamp being of such character that it may be inserted and removed throughthe tubular bearing. This plate 41 constitutes a closure for this end of the housing. A closure plate 42 is provided for the other end of the housing, these plates being interchangeable so that the lamp may be introducedfroin either end as may be convenient in forming the electrical connections.

The lever 39 is mounted on the supporting bracket 43, the bracket being in turn mount ed on the plate 44 adapted to be mounted on the under side of the vehicle body as under the seat 2. The lever 39 has a plurality of holes 45 in which the cable 36 may be connected to regulate its throw. The lever 39 is actuated either from the brake lever 46 to which it is connected by the cable 47 or by means of the hand lever 48 mounted on steering post 3 and connected to lever 39 by means of the cable 49 and bell crank lever 50 and the cable 51. Thisbell crank lever 50 is mounted on the underside of the vehicle body. These operating parts are substantially the same as those shown in my application for Letters Patent filed August 15. 1920, Serial No. 403,829.

I providea dash pot to check the return of the indicator drum, thus preventing a severe shock thereto and to the operating parts. The dash pot consists of a cylinder 52 pivoted at 53 on the plate 44, and piston 54 having a piston rod 55 engaging the lever 39. An escape valve 56 times the return movement.

My improved hand lever mechanism comprises a pair of easing members 57 and 58 having telescoped flanges 59 and 60 respectively. (See Fig. VI.) The casing member 58 is provided with a tangentially disposed tubular extension 61 to which. the Bowden tube 62 for the cable 51 is disposed. A supporting clip or bracket 63 is provided for the housing member 57. The disc 64 is provided with a spindle 65 forming a part of the hand lever 48. The disc is peripherally grooved to receive the cable 51 and has a segmental slot 66 to receive the stop pin 67 carried by one of the casing members projecting tin-(nigh a hole in the other. The hand operating means is simple and compact in structure and may be conveniently mounted upon a steering post.

With the parts thus arranged I provide an amparatus which is very convenient to manipulate, is easily mounted upon a vehicle without modification of the vehicle, and the structure is durable and not likely to get out of order in use.

Through the operating connections described the stop indicia is'displayed when the brake is applied. The stop indicia may, however, be displayed by means of the hand lever. With the stop indicia dis played. further actuations may be had by the hand lever to display the direction indicia.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a signal device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylindrical body having a window extension at the front and a window opening at the bottom, cap like end members secured on the ends of said body and provided with. inwardly projecting tubular bearings, an indicia drum provided with indicia openings and a window opening therein adapted to normally align with said window opening in the bottom of said housing, flanged end members disposed within said drum with their flanges outwardly, said drum and members being provided with tubular journals disposed in said bearings, a drum stop on said housing, said drum being notched at one end to receive said stop, the ends of the notch constituting stops coacting with said stop on said housing, a coiled spring arranged on one of said bearings with one end engaged with said drum, an actuating cable for said drum extending through an opening in said housing whereby the drum may be actuated against the tension of said spring, a lamp, a supporting plate mounted on one housing end member over its bearing to support the lamp within said drum, and a closure plate for the other bearing, said plates being interchangeable.

2. In a signal device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylindrical body having a window extension at the front and a window opening at the bottom, cap like and members secured on the ends of said body andprovided with inwardly projecting tubular bearings, an indicia drum provided with indicia openings and a window opening therein adapted to normally align with said window opening in the bottom of said housing, flanged end members disposed within said drum with their flanges outward said drum end members being provided with tubular journals disposed in said bearings, a. drum stop on said housing, said drum being notched at one end to receive said stop, the ends of the notch constituting stops coacting with said stop on said housing, a coiled spring arranged on one of said bearings with one end engaged with said drum, an actuating cable for said drum extending through an opening in said housing whereby the drum may be actuated against the tension of said spring.

3. In a signal device. the combination of a housing comprising a cylindrical body having a window extension at the front and a window opening at the bottom, the top and bottom of said window extension being formed of portions of said body struck forwardly therefrom, there being a portion stuck out downwardly from the body to provide said bottom window opening, such portion constituting an attaching member, cap like end members secured on the ends of said body and provided with inwardly projecting tubular bearings, 'an indieia drum provided with indicia openings and a window opening therein adapted to normally align with said window opening in the bottom of said housing, end members disposed within said drum, said end mem bers being provided with tubular journals disposed in said bearings, a drum stop on said housing, coacting stops on said drum, return spring for said drum, an actuating cable for said drum extending through an opening in said housing whereby the drum may be actuated against the tension of said spring. a lamp, a supporting plate mounted on one housing end member over its bearing to support the lamp within said drum, and a closure plate for the other bearing, said plates being interchangeable.

In a signal device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylindrical body having a window extension at the front and a window opening at the bottom, the top and bottom of said window extension being formed of portions of said body struck forwardly therefrom, there being a portion stuck out downwardly from the body to provide said bottom window opening, such portion constituting an attaching member, cap like end members secured on the ends of said body and provided with inwardly projecting tubular bearings, an indicia drum provided with indicia openings and a window opening therein adapted to normally align with said window opening in the bottom of said housing, end members disposed within said drum, said end members being provided with tubular journals disposed in said bearsaid bearings, a drum stop on said housing,

said drum being notched at one end to receive said stop, the ends of the notch constituting stops coat-ting with said stop on said housing, a coiled spring arranged on one of said bearings with one end engaged with said drum, an actuating cable for said drum extending through an opening in said housing whereby the drum may be actuated against the tension oi said spring, a lamp, a supporting plate mounted on one housing end member over its bearing to support the lamp within said drum, and a closure plate for the other bearing, said plates being interchangeable.

6. in a signal device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylindrical body, cap like end members secured on the ends of said body and provided with inwardly projecting tubular bearings, flanged end members disposed within said drum with their flanges outwardly, said drum end members being provided with tubular journals disposed in said bearings, a drum stop on said housing, said drum being notched at one end to re ceive said stop,the ends of the notch constituting stops coacting with said stop on said housing, a coiled spring arranged on one of bearings with one end engaged with sa d drum, an actuating cable wrapped upon salddrum and extending through an openmg 111 said housing whereby the drum may be actuated against the tension of said spring.

7. In a vehicle signal device, the combinatlon with a housing, of an indieia drum rotatable therein, a return spring for said in dicia drum, stops for said indicia drum, operat ng means for said indicia drum comprising an intermediate lever, operating connections for said lever of said drum, operat- 111 means for said lever, and a return dash pot for said lever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM w. HUELSTER. 1.8;

WVitnesses:

LU'ELLA G. GREENFIELD, MARGARET L. GLASGOW. 

